‘Maybe I’ll dust it off one day’ – Lennox Lewis recalls victory over Mike Tyson and reveals he still has the ring from epic win in 2002

Lennox Lewis revealed he still has the ring that he fought and knocked out Mike Tyson in 20 years ago.

On June 8, 2002, the two icons of heavyweight boxing finally stepped into the ring after many years of trying.

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Lewis, the last unified heavyweight champion of the world, dominated and stopped ‘Iron Mike’ in the eighth round in of what proved to be a mismatch in the bitter Memphis bout.

The Brit had plenty of reasons to be fearful due to Tyson’s violent attitude in the build-up, starting a brawl at their New York press conference and even threatening to eat Lewis’ kids, although he did not have any at the time.

He did not have too much to fear in the end and his victory was convincing.

Lewis posted about the anniversary on his Instagram and revealed he still has the ring from that fight.

He wrote: “OnThisDay in 2002, I stopped Mike Tyson in the 8th Round to retain my #WBC, #IBO, Ring, and Lineal.

“I knew I couldn’t retire without making this fight happen but due to the Don King ‘politricks’ of the time, I couldn’t make it happen when Tyson was champ and I was the number 1 contender, so I made it happen when I was the champ.

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“At the presser to announce that Lewis Tyson is on, Tyson threw a punch at my bodyguard that started a brawl. In the chaos, Tyson bit me on my leg and just that quickly, Lewis Tyson was off!

“The boxing commissions in Nevada and New York refused to let Tyson fight there and after a lot of wheeling and dealing, Lewis Tyson is on again in Memphis, TN.

“It made history at the time as the highest grossing fight of all time and still remains the highest grossing heavyweight fight of all time.

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“We both were at the end of our carers, I only fought one more time before retiring, I think Mike fought a few more before hanging up the gloves himself, but I think we both gave a good account and finally gave the public what they had been wanting to see for many years.

“I still have the ring we fought in in storage. Maybe I’ll dust it off one day.”

Despite the fiery build-up, Lewis was told by his trainer - the legendary Manny Steward - that Tyson would be no problem.

Asked in an interview if he feared his opponent, who he has known since they were teenagers, he said in a 2020 interview: “Yes and no. Yes, because TV made him look like King Kong.

“But no, because Manny [Lewis’ trainer Emanuel Steward] always told me Tyson would be my easiest fight.

“I’d say: ‘Come on, now. He’s going to be a little difficult.’ But Manny said: ‘No. It’s your easiest fight.’”